Trump to meet Japan's Ishiba as China trade war simmers

By Trevor Hunnicutt and David Brunnstrom

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump will meet Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba for the first time on Friday as two allies wary of China's rise work to boost business and security ties while an escalating trade war threatens to rupture the global economy.

Trump, whose first three weeks in office have shredded norms and shaken foreign capitals from Ottawa to Bogota, has taken a more conventional approach to Washington's longstanding Asia-Pacific allies, including Japan, South Korea, Australia and the Philippines.

But those friendships may be tested as Trump's early fight with China over synthetic opioids and warnings of tariffs against other countries - Japan included - threaten to disrupt commercial relations in Asia and beyond.

Trump put a 10% tariff on all imports from China in what he called an "opening salvo" in a clash between the world's two largest economies, sending consumers and businesses scrambling to adjust.

Japan is especially trade-dependent: it is a major exporter and counts on imports for much of its food and natural resources, and many of its firms are deeply invested in and reliant on China.

Tokyo shares the hawkish outlook towards China of Trump's national security team over Beijing's global ambitions and extensive territorial claims in Asia, including the vital chip-producing island of Taiwan.

At the same time, Japanese officials are wary of possible efforts by Beijing to court the U.S. president with promises of cooperation on key global issues, including trade. Trump spoke to Chinese President Xi Jinping days before taking office and has said he will discuss tariffs with him soon.

Japanese officials speaking privately say they are comfortable in dealing with Trump's China hawks, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and national security Michael Waltz, but less so with those in the administration with strong business ties with Beijing, such as billionaire Elon Musk, who has developed a significant Washington power base.

Trump and Ishiba are expected to hold a joint news conference on Friday afternoon.

BRACING FOR TRUMP DEMANDS

For Tokyo, the early White House visit is a promising signal from the new Trump administration.

"There's two foreign heads of state that have been received in the Oval Office," said Rahm Emanuel, Biden's ambassador to Tokyo. "That's Bibi Netanyahu of Israel, and Japan. So that's a good thing, and that's a good sign."

Trump was close with the late Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe but has no relationship with Ishiba, who took office in October. That is something Japanese officials want to change, and they plan to invite Trump to visit Japan.

One familiar face in the Japanese delegation will be Sunao Takao, Abe's long-serving interpreter who Trump once jokingly referred to as junior prime minister.

Tokyo has taken the unusual step of deploying Takao, now a senior foreign ministry bureaucrat, to interpret for Ishiba in the hope of rekindling that rapport.

Japan is girding for Trump to demand concessions to reduce the $56 billion bilateral trade surplus and stave off the threat of tariffs.

Tokyo has been preparing some concessions, officials told Reuters, including considering to buy more LNG from the United States and offering support for a $44 billion gas pipeline in Alaska. SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son has also promised to invest hundreds of billions in artificial intelligence in the U.S.

Options to increase manufacturing investment in the U.S., semiconductor chips and artificial intelligence are also expected to figure in the discussions.

"The Japanese are definitely thinking of ways to both reduce the deficit and create jobs in the United States in industrial sectors that are of particular interest to Donald Trump," said Kenneth Weinstein, head of Japan program at Washington's conservative Hudson Institute think tank.

There are areas of tension beyond trade, including the attempted takeover of U.S. Steel by Japan's Nippon Steel. Former President Joe Biden blocked the deal but delayed its enforcement pending legal action; Trump has also vowed to block the deal.

However, there are also solid signs of stability and continuity in ties and the two leaders are expected to formally agree to language touting their alliance and common views on the economy and security issues, including China and Taiwan, according to another official familiar with the discussions.

(Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt and David Brunnstrom in Washington; Additional reporting by Tim Kelly and John Geddie in Tokyo. Editing by Gerry Doyle)